garden with woodland backcloth – 1st summer

September 19, 2011

Visiting to monitor growth and discuss how a new garden as developed to suit the owners is a crucial part of a designer’s role. There were 2 posts on this garden build – the first is here ( last autumn) and the second here (early winter).

The sculpture is by Leigh Dyer and just a reminder, below, on the area before the build – slippery grassy slope – that needed a rationale and also a pragmatic approach to the levels to enable easy circulation. Planting that grows gently in height towards the woodland – decorative to finger tip height and then grassier – and self binding hoggin with timber edging now provides a decent surface.

A fine line of Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ run along the house walls (above) and a relaxing seating/eating area (below)has evolved with some shade from the vine clad structure and offers views back up the garden.

By the end of November, the blues and silvers will be subdued with the buttery grasses and dark seed heads still having a presence. It all depends on the first frost.

Ye have been fresh and green,
Ye have been fill’d with flowers,
And ye the walks have been
Where maids have spent their hours.

You have beheld how they
With wicker arks did come
To kiss and bear away
The richer cowslips home.

You’ve heard them sweetly sing,
And seen them in a round:
Each virgin like a spring,
With honeysuckles crown’d.

But now we see none here
Whose silv’ry feet did tread
And with dishevell’d hair
Adorn’d this smoother mead.

Like unthrifts, having spent
Your stock and needy grown,
You’re left here to lament
Your poor estates, alone. Robert Herrick To Meadows

[…] It’s been decided to pull off site at the end of the week, let the ground drain and return in mid April to finish off creating gravel paths, prepping the borders and finally planting. By the way, these contractors have just one a big prize and since they’re working on 4 of our jobs, we feel lucky. We’ve all worked together before – one of the projects is here. […]